| RuPaul's Drag Race | |
|---|---|
| Season 13 | |
 Promotional poster for season thirteen | |
| Hosted by | RuPaul |
| Judges | |
| No. of contestants | 13 |
| Winner | Symone |
| Runner-up | Kandy Muse |
| Miss Congeniality | LaLa Ri |
| Companion show | RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked! |
| No. of episodes | 16 |
| Release | |
| Original network | VH1 |
| Original release | January 1 – April 23, 2021 |
| Season chronology | |
The thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on January 1 and concluded on April 23, 2021. The cast was announced via Twitter on December 9, 2020.[1] The competition is broadcast on VH1 in the United States and showcases 13 new queens competing for the title of "America's Next Drag Superstar". VH1 renewed both RuPaul's Drag Race and its spin-off RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars for a thirteenth and sixth season respectively on August 20, 2020. Casting calls for season 13 were opened in December 2019.[2] In addition to airing on VH1, the premiere episode was simulcast across 5 other channels: Logo, MTV, MTV2, Pop, and The CW,[3] becoming the most-watched episode in the franchise's history.[4]
After the season's first teaser trailer was accidentally leaked a day prior, the cast was officially revealed by season 12 winner Jaida Essence Hall on December 9, 2020. The teaser revealed that the season's premiere would consist of six "Lip-Sync for Your Life" battles in a Lip-Sync Extravaganza, along with a new socially distanced stage and werkroom design. The season welcomed Gottmik, the show's first ever openly transgender male and assigned female at birth contestant since the series began in 2009.[5]
The season was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, relying on strict protocols, including isolation and testing of contestants, judges, and crew. On February 26, 2021, the series aired Corona Can't Keep a Good Queen Down detailing the season's production amid the pandemic, including unseen footage and reflections from the cast.[6] The winner of the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race was Symone, with Kandy Muse as the runner-up and LaLa Ri as Miss Congeniality.
- ^ "Skating into the Werk Room, it's Denali! @denalifox #DragRace #DragRaceRuveal". Twitter. RuPaul's Drag Race. December 9, 2020. Archived from the original on January 1, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ St. James, James (December 2, 2019). "Calling All Drag Queens: Casting for RuPaul's Drag Race Season 13 Has Begun!". World of Wonder. Archived from the original on December 25, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ Rudolph, Christopher (December 18, 2020). ""RuPaul's Drag Race" Sashays Over to the CW For Broadcast Network Debut". NewNowNext. Archived from the original on December 21, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 4, 2021). "'RuPaul's Drag Race' Season 13 Premiere Slays As Most-Watched Episode In Franchise's History". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ DOMMU, ROSE (July 28, 2020). "Cover Stars Gigi Gorgeous and Gottmik Are Destroying Your Expectations". Out. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Alter, Rebecca (February 17, 2021). "RuPaul's Drag Race Is Serving Face (Masks) in COVID-19 Documentary Special". Vulture. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.